The Association of Industrial Users (AILU) has published an article entitled ’Laser micro-adjustment using ultra-short pulses’ written by our very own Jonathan Griffiths
Thin sheet laser micro-forming (LμF) for the micro-adjustment of actuator style components was conducted using picosecond duration pulses, with no absorptive or confining layers required. This novel technique combines short pulse durations with high repetition rates and offers a method of generating localised heat build-up on the top surface of micro-scale components, allowing for controlled and repeatable thermal micro-adjustment.
A relatively large range of deformation was found to be achievable through a combination of hatched and single line irradiation strategies, varying laser power and traverse speeds.
Extensive empirical studies were conducted, with an emphasis on the use picosecond pulse durations in LμF. The use of 20 ps pulse durations limited the heat diffusion depth to within a suitable range (that is, half the sheet thickness) on the top surface of the component, whilst not being so short as to cause significant material removal by ablation. It was found that the repetition rate and therefore degree of pulse overlap must be high enough to ensure sufficient build up in temperature on the surface of the component for thermal forming.
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Jonathan Griffiths is a Research Fellow at the University of Lincoln. His research interests include numerical modelling of the laser forming process and laser ignition for gas turbines
To order the article from AILU please visit: http://www.ailu.org.uk/laser_technology/the_laser_user_magazine/articles/6524.html
